CORONAVIRUS SCOURGE: Russia Bans Chinese Visitors

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In spite of welcoming over 1.5million Chinese tourists to Russia annually, the government of the Federation of Russia has announced the ban of Chinese travelling into any part of her country while the issuance of visa and permits for Chinese have been put on hold till further notice.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Tatyana Golikova, who made the announcement today, said the ban takes immediate effect, Wednesday, 19th February.

View of the Kremlin, with the Kremlin Wall, the towers, and the Grand Kremlin Palace (right). The ‘fortress inside a city,’ is overlooking the Moskva River in the centre of Moscow. Image: Ed Parsons

She declared that the acceptance of documents, registration and issuance of invitations for Chinese citizens to enter Russia for private and educational purposes had been suspended.

Tatyana Golikova further announced that no temporary travel documents will be accepted, no invitations for Chinese citizens to enter Russia will be issued and no work permits for these citizens located outside the Russian Federation will be granted.

This picture taken on January 23, 2020, shows passengers wearing masks prepare to disembark from a flight from Hong Kong on arrival at Bangkok’s airport ahead of the Chinese New Year in Bangkok on January 23, 2020. – China sealed off millions of more people near the epicentre of a virus outbreak on January 24, shutting down public transport in an eighth city in an unprecedented quarantine effort as the death toll from the disease climbed. (Photo by Vivek Prakash / AFP)

This restriction on Chinese travellers is the Russia Republic government’s measure to preserve her citizens and other immigrants in the federation against the raging coronavirus scourge.

The ban will apply to visitors coming to Russia for the purpose of employment, for a private visit, educational and tourist purposes. The ban apparently will not affect transit passengers